BONNERS FERRY — Roughly two days after it was first reported and quickly spread due to high winds, a full suppression effort has brought containment of the Turner Fire to 43%.

"We're very, very thankful for the work that went into both (the Turner and Smith fires) by the local fire department resources, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Wildland Fire Service and the Idaho Department of Lands, they've set us up for success," Mark Goeller, deputy incident commander for Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1, said.

Goeller said in a video update posted to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest social media accounts that crews would continue those efforts and work to control both incidents, continuing a full suppression strategy on both the Turner and Upper Smith fires.

Goeller said the Northern Rockies CIMT 1 was scheduled to work the fire for the next two weeks, bringing its full resources to attack both fires.

"We are excited to be able to serve not only the agencies that we came here to represent, but also to serve the public and to protect them not only from those two incidents, but any future incidents that may come under our purview," the deputy CIMT incident commander said.

Located 5 miles south of Copeland early Wednesday evening, the wildfire forced the evacuation of 100 homes and an elevated status on the state's Ready-Set-Go evacuation protocol.

Under "Ready" status, residents are advised to have a plan to evacuate if necessary; under "Set" status, residents are advised to begin putting their plan into place. Under "Go" status, residents are advised to leave due to imminent threat.

The cause of the fire, which is burning in a combination of slash, timber, grass and brush, is under investigation. It has burned 593 acres and is now being managed by Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1, which also assumed control of the nearby Upper Smith Fire.

"A full suppression strategy will continue to be implemented utilizing direct and indirect tactics to protect critical values at-risk and minimize firefighter risk exposure," U.S. Forest Service officials said on InciWeb, an interagency incident information management site.

Incident Commander Bea Day said firefighters made good progress Thursday and Friday, constructing handlines along the eastern edge of the fire while engine crews used water to create wet lines along the western edge. The efforts were aided by a scooper plane and helicopters and two task forces of engines from the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association are assisting with structure protection measures.

Firefighters will continue direct perimeter control by constructing handlines and using heavy equipment to prevent the fire from spreading further onto private and Tribal property in the Kootenai River drainage, CIMT officials said. Structure protection resources will work along Fleming Creek and Ginger Roads.

An Interagency Hotshot Crew and Type 2 I/A hand crews arrived late Thursday to assist in fighting the fire, bringing the number of fire crews assigned to the Turner Fire to 170. In addition, three dozers, five helicopters and numerous engines have been assigned to the fire.

While progress has been made to contain the fire, Boundary County Sheriff Travis Stolley said all evacuation levels would remain in place through the night.

"Firefighting crews continue to make good progress but not enough progress to change the evacuation orders," Stolley said in a post on the sheriff's office social media accounts.

A meeting is planned for Saturday morning, with a potential update on evacuation notices to be made at that time.

On the Upper Smith Fire, located 6 miles west of Porthill, Day said crews will continue a full suppression strategy, using both direct and indirect tactics to protect critical structures and values and minimize firefighter risk exposure.

Efforts kept growth of the fire to 148 acres Thursday despite the strong winds that hit the region. A combination of aerial and ground resources kept the Upper Smith Fire from crossing the ridge on the south side of the fire, which continues to creep slowly downslope toward the bottom of Smith Creek drainage.

"A combination of handline and mechanical control lines have been instrumental in slowing the fire’s spread along the east and west flanks," officials said in an update on InciWeb.

There are 161 total personnel assigned to the Upper Smith Fire, with three dozers, two helicopters and seven engines as well as five hand crews.

In the coming days, crews will continue to improve and expand indirect hand and dozer control lines on the fire's east side. Also, additional indirect control lines will be scouted as part of the long-term fire control strategy. A structure protection group remains in place to protect structures and other identified critical values-at-risk, officials said. Firefighters will continue to test and maintain the sprinkler systems installed for structure protection.

The fire remains at 0% containment.

Both Smith Creek Road and Long Canyon Trail have been closed to public travel. Closures in the Westside and Kerr Lake road areas, as well as a closure of Riverside Street, are connected to county projects.

Temporary flight restrictions are in effect over both fires to ensure the safety of suppression aircraft.

Info.: inciweb.wildfire.gov‌

    A view of the Upper Smith Fire at the border of Canada, looking west.
  

    A map showing the location and perimeter of the Upper Smith Fire.
  

    A map showing the perimeter of the Turner Fire.